[Musician Signed Cigarette Case] Kreisler, Rubinstein, Toscanini, Serkin, Paderewski, Pinza, Bauer, Morini, Ricci etc. Inscribed Silver Cigarette Case. One-of-a-kind vintage sterling silver cigarette case with etched/incised signatures of some of the 20th century's greatest musicians, 28 on the outside and 3 on the inside. The signers include Arturo Toscanini, Arthur Rubinstein, Fritz Kreisler, Rudolf Serkin, Erica Morini, Ruggiero Ricci, Harold Bauer, Ignaz Paderewski, Serge Koussevitzky, Kirsten Flagstad, Sigrid Onegin, Alfred Piccaver, Frank Case, Ezio Pinza, Alexander Brailowsky, Lauritz Melchior, Marian Anderson, Jan Kubelik, Jamila Novotna, Dorothy Maynor, John McCormack, Sophie Tucker and others. The case made by R. Blackinton & Co. and measuring 3 7/8" x 3" with a weight of 3.19 Oz or 99.3 grams. In fine condition with a few minor marks and a small dent close to the Arturo Toscanini signature.


The history of this remarkable and no doubt unique item remains unknown. One signer is Frank Case and this may be the owner and manager of the Algonquin Hotel and perhaps this relic was related to his work there. In any event the collection of signatures suggests the case may have been commissioned for a figure of a certain standing within the musical community, possibly a manager or a recording engineer.